Our Staff

Doctors

Dr Ailsa Cormack

BMedSci , BM BS, MRCGP , DFFP , PGCert(GPEd) Registered U.K. 1987

I joined the practice in 2005 and qualified as a GP Trainer in August 2007. I am now responsible for training GP registrars within the practice. My interests are in child health and family planning.

Dr Kate Ealing

MB BS MRCGP DRCOG DCH DFFP Registered U.K. 1994.

I qualified in 1994 from Kings College, London and completed GP training in Kent in 1998. I then worked as a GP in the Oxfordshire area for a few years, before moving to the North West in 2002, joining Stacksteads & Bacup surgeries. I became a partner at Irwell Medical Practice in 2005. My interests are in child health, contraception, sexual and women’s health, fitting contraceptive implants and coils at the practice. I am the lead for cancer and end of life care, as well as a GP trainer.

Dr John O'Malley

MB Chb DRCOG Registered U.K. 1992.

I trained in St. Andrews and Manchester, qualifying in 1991. I then worked in various hospitals and practices around Manchester before coming to Bacup in 2001. I enjoy minor surgery and have a special interest in diabetes.

Dr Patricia WIlkinson

MB ChB DFSRH Registered UK 1989

Trained in Manchester, qualified in 1989 and have worked in East Lancashire. Since then, I joined what was Stacksteads practice in 1997 and Irwell Medical Practice when they merged in 2005. My main interest is in family planning and I am an instructing doctor in this. I also chair one of the research ethics committees.

Dr Tom Wade

MbChb (Hons) MRCGP DFSRH

After completing my medical degree in Manchester I undertook my GP training in Easy Lancashire and was a trainee at IMP before I qualified. I have an interest in dermatology and minor surgery and also do joint injections. More recently I have become involved in training junior doctors, aspiring GP's and other health professionals. In my spare time I try to ride my bike whenever possible!

Dr Afraz Zafar

MBChB, MRCGP, DFRSH

After qualifying from Manchester Medical School in 2007, I worked in hospitals in the Pennine and East Lancashire areas, across a variety of specialities. I came to Bacup in 2011 as a GP Trainee and qualified as a GP in 2012. I have been in Bacup ever since and enjoy working here.

Dr Rebecca Roxburgh

MBBS BSc MRCP MRCGP

I am originally from Lancashire but trained at the Imperial College school of medicine in London. My first job was a junior doctor post in London and following this I came back up to Lancashire. I spent a short time travelling and working in New Zealand. When I came back I worked in a number of different medical specialities before deciding to become a GP.

Dr Katherine Thompson

MBChB, MRCGP

I qualified from Manchester Medical School in 2005, following which I worked across a variety of specialities in hospitals around Manchester until moving to East Lancashire for my general practice training. I came to Irwell Medical Practice as part of this and have stayed here since I completed my training in 2014.

Dr Kirstie Caine

I am originally from Kent but trained at Manchester Medical School, after which I worked in hospitals and practices across the Pennine area. I joined Irwell Medical Practice in 2018 and am enjoying working in the Bacup area.

Dr Sam Smith

MBChB, MRCGP

After completing my medical degree in Liverpool in 2011, I have worked in Warrington and New Zealand before coming to East Lancashire and Bacup for GP training. I have since worked in other practices but opted to return to Bacup. I have an interest in minor surgery and joint injections.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

In order to see as many patients as possible, Irwell Medical Practice has three Advanced Nurse Practitioners who can see patients, write prescriptions and make referrals where appropriate. They are experienced nurses who have undergone higher level training in a variety of subjects. They see patients on a day to day basis like a GP would and are able to assess, diagnose, treat and refer in accordance with local policy and guidelines. They have a prescribing qualification and are able to prescribe within their own clearly defined remit. ANP’s are health promoters that bridge the gap between nurses and GP’s. They often have their own specialist areas and are able to improve access to the surgery. The Advanced Nurse Practitioners at Irwell Medical Practice are improving access with the GP’s to ensure that acutely unwell patients are seen quickly and by the appropriate person.

Marian Malley

Advanced Nurse Practitioner - RGN, BA (Hons) MSc, Dip FP, Dip Asthma

Prescriber - Independent non medical, Specialist Practitioner.

Claire Downes

Advanced Nurse Practitioner - MSc Advanced Practice, BN (Hons), Diploma in COPD

Independent Non Medical Prescriber, Respiratory Management and Diabetes.

Sharron Deane

MSc Advanced practice, BSc (Hons) DIPHE Previously in Mental Health, Oncology and Macmillan before moving to General practice.

Nurses

Angela Ormrod

Practice Nurse Team Leader - Diploma in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diploma in Higher Education in pre-registration Nursing Adult, BSC Professional Practice, Diploma in Asthma, Preparation of Mentors.

Dot Spencer

RGN, Diploma in Chronic Heart Disease

Adele Wilde

RGN, ENB Practice Nursing, ENB A51 Specialist Practitioner (Practice Nursing), Diploma in Asthma Care, Diploma in Primary Care Diabetes, Diploma in Primary Care Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Diploma in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Joanne Hartley

BSc Hons in Adult Nursing

Debra Crichton

RGN, ENB Adult Nursing, BSC Hons, Special Practitioner General Practice Nursing. Warwick Diabetes Care in Diabetes

Pharmacists

Lisa Collins

Healthcare Assistants

Deborah Walton

Level 2 Award: Health Care Assistant in Primary & Community Care, NVQ 2 in Care, NVQ 3 in Care

Nyomi Hope

Trainee Nurse Associate and hold level 2 NVQ and 3 NVQ in care.

Rebecca Parkes

Health Care Assistant

Practice Management

Pauline Aspinall

Strategic Manager

I have worked in General Practice for over twenty years, starting as a Medical Receptionist, progressing through to my current role as Strategic Manager at Irwell Medical Practice. I am an experienced manager responsible for running the Business side of the practice. I deal with all financial issues, human resources, and developing the Practice for the future. I am delighted and proud to be part of the Irwell Medical Practice team and assisting in the delivery of high quality patient services to all those registered at the practice and in the Rossendale Locality. I am a local girl and I want to see my locality be as healthy and well lead as it can be. I am passionate about staff development and training hence my involvement as joint Lead in the Pennine Lancashire Training Hub. I believe in upskilling and skill mixing in practice, the introduction of new staff roles into General Practice will, I believe, ensure the survival of our NHS for future generations.

Jessica Aspinall

Practice Manager

I started working at Irwell Medical Practice in January 2012 as a Medical Receptionist. Since then I have undergone lots of training including the Amspar Level 5 Diploma in Primary Care Management and have progressed to my current role of Practice Manager. As the Practice Manager I am responsible for the day to day running of the Practice, human resources for all non-clinical staff, complaints, compliments + patient feedback, internal + external training for the Practice, quality assurance + CQC and deputising for the Strategic Manager when necessary. I am passionate about offering an accessible and excellent service to our patients and am heavily involved with our Patient Participation Group.

Jack Morris

Operations Co-Ordinator

I started work here at Irwell back in May 2014 as a Receptionist. My Dad was previously a GP partner here and recommended the role for me. Three years afterwards I was promoted to Reception Co-Ordinator and as of April this year I have been promoted again to Operations Co-Ordinator. My new role will involve much more contact with the management team, involving Pauline the Strategic Manager, Jess the Practice Manager and Angela the Nurse Lead. I will be expected to handle a variety of tasks that will ensure the smooth daily operations of the practice. This will include jobs such as adding GP and nurse appointments, overlooking the recall system, assisting with project management and much, much more. I am excited to start my new role here and look forward to what it may bring me for the future.

Administration

Fiona Ticehurst

IT Administrator

Donna Richmond

Finance Officer & Practice Administrator

Natalie White

Practice Administrator

Millie Lynch

Medical Administration Officer

Zoe Booth

Medical Administration Officer

George McQuade

Apprentice Administrator

Reception

We employ eleven Receptionists, who are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the Doctors. They do their best to keep both Doctors and patients happy and are always on hand to help and support you where they can. . As you can appreciate this is a very demanding and difficult job so please be bear with them and be a patient patient.

Sam Heaton

Reception Coordinator

Anita Stansfield

Prescriptions Clerk

Val Bull

Prescription Clerk

Natascha Foster

Medical Receptionist

Abi Gardner

Medical Receptionist

Claire Howarth

Medical Receptionist

Deborah Drummond-Malley

Medical Receptionist

Clare Boulton

Medical Receptionist

Shona O'Hara

Medical Receptionist

Georgia Johnson

Medical Receptionist

Secretaries

Janet Aston

Medical Secretary

Julie Nuttall

Medical Secretary

Vicky Ogretmen

Medical Secretary

Community Midwives

Can be contacted at the Sure Start building opposite the Health Centre on 01706 871740.

Community Nurses

Are attached to the practice and can be contacted at the Primary Health Care Centre on 01706 253 425 We work closely with the Health Visitor’s and District Nurses. The Health Visitors attend our weekly Baby Clinics and we meet with the District Nurses to discuss problems e.g. palliative care issues etc.